HARLINGEN — Organizers are seeking volunteers for a major cleanup of Boca Chica Beach between the State Highway 4 access to the mouth of the Rio Grande.
In conjunction with World Oceans Day on June 8, the cleanup is being led by the nonprofit RGV Fishing Area and Waterway Cleanups, which has previously staged events at Gayman’s Bridge on State Highway 48 and the Las Pedritas area in San Benito.
Boca Chica Beach is a popular fishing and beach-driving site with its share of trash left by visitors as well as items washed or blown in from the Gulf of Mexico.
“Tons of trash was cleaned up at our Gayman’s Bridge Cleanup in April, and over 200 people showed up as volunteers,” said Richard Hitchcox, managing director of RGV Fishing Area and Waterway Cleanups. “We collected and turned in over 100 tires at one of our events in San Benito (Las Pedritas area) to the Bridgestone Corp.’s Tires4wards Program for recycling. Republic Services and Waste Connections have provided us Dumpster support at some of our cleanup events.
“The Port of Brownsville director and staff, County Commissioner (Sofia) Benavides and staff, and County Commissioner (David) Garza and staff have provided outstanding assistance with arranging for waste disposal,” he added.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is co-sponsoring the Boca Chica cleanup.
Hitchcox said his cleanup group is a volunteer organization which solicits donations such as gift cards and gift certificates from local businesses to reward some of the participating volunteers.
Trash bags, nitrile gloves, work gloves, sunscreen, insect repellent, trash pickup tools and bottled water will be provided. Four-wheel drive transportation down the beach also will be available, Hitchcox said.
Hitchcox said the group is currently planning two additional waterways trash pickup events.
“We are planning a cleanup at the Low Water Bridge in San Benito on the Arroyo Colorado for the second or third Saturday in July,” he said. “We are also planning a cleanup at the Mercedes waterfalls on the Arroyo Colorado for a Saturday in early August, and that will be our second cleanup at the waterfalls area.”
If you go
WHAT — Boca Chica Beach-Rio Grande volunteer cleanup
WHERE — Meet at Boca Chica Beach entrance on State Highway 4
WHEN — June 8, 8:30 a.m. to noon
WHO — RGV Fishing Area and Waterway Cleanups, 956-371-7146
PROVIDED — Trash bags, nitrile gloves, work gloves, sunscreen, insect repellent, trash pickup tools and bottled water
MORE INFO — www.facebook.com/events/2355796341408466
